South Beach Wine and Food Festival 2013

Culinary Students from FIU’s Chaplin mSchool of Hospitality and Tourism ManagementSumptuous Cuisine at Best of the Best SOBE 2012Celebrity Chefs at SOBE 2012

Calling all foodies and wine enthusiasts. It’s time to uncork and decant your favorite wine and hide your scale so you can indulge in four days of sumptuous cuisine at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival 2013!

WHEN: February 21-24, 2013

TICKETS: www.sobefest.com

Raise Your Glass to the Philanthropic Celebrity Chefs and Sponsors at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival for generating over $17 million for FIU’s Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism management. The Food Network, Southern Wine & Spirtis of Florida and FOOD & WINE Magazine presented a series of culinary events led by world-renown chefs and world-class spirits and wine companies at the annual Foodie Event of the Year.

Celebrity Chefs at SOBE 2012

Wine and Swine Event at SOBE 2012

Hundreds of food and wine festivals are held in the U.S. each year. Some are decades-old events and others are new kids on the block.

A typical food and wine festival feature tastings, pairings, demonstrations and “dine-arounds” held at local restaurants. Some even have cookbook signings by celebrity chefs.

These events are generally about philanthrophy. In South Beach, sponsors collaborated with Celebrity Chefs, culinary students and over 11,000 team members raise money for culinary students. The South Beach Food and Wine Festival 2012 was one of the best food and wine festivals in the country!

Celebrity Chefs at SOBE 2012

The 2012, 11th edition of the annual fund-raiser for Florida International University‘s Chaplin School of Hospitality and Tourism Management worked to generate over $17 milllion since the inception of the Festival eleven years ago. Nearly 1000 students volunteered thousands of hours preparing for this incredible 4-day wine, spirits and culinary extravaganza. The students are preparing to walk in the footsteps of the Celebrity Chefs to become future leaders in these exciting industries.

Emeril Lagasse at SOBE 2012

There were dozens of exciting events including: late-night parties, special dinners, signature food and wine tastings and culinary demonstrations led by Rock Star celebrity chefs. For the full list of events visit www.sobefest.com so you can save the date for next year’s extravaganza!

Bobby Deen at SOBE 2012

Nadia G at SOBE 2012

Rachel Ray at SOBE 2012

In front of the Ritz-Carlton, at the Delano Beachside there were incredible events like: Moet Hennessy’s “The Q after Dark” hosted by Emeril Lagasse and Guy Fieri and “Late Night Bites and Sweets” sponsored by Godiva Chocolatier. Paula Deen had a Sunday Brunch, Andrew Zimmerman hosted “Trucks on the Beach”, “Burger Bash” was hosted by Rachel Ray. There was a “Swine and Wine” event hosted by Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos at the Biltmore Hotel Country Club in Coral Gables.

Guy Fieri at SOBE 2012

Roasted Pig at SOBE 2012Moet Hennessy’s “The Q” at the Delano Beach Front at SOBE 2012

Wine Spectator‘s “Best of the Best” offered extraordinary wines rated 90 points or higher with world-class chefs serving a sampling of their signature cuisine. This lavish event was held at the iconic Fontainbleau Hotel on Collins Avenue.

Wine Auction at Best of the Best Sobe 2012

Best of the Best at the Fontainebleau Miami 2012

There was even a Tribute Dinner honoring Chef Charlie Trotter and winemaker Piero Antinori at the Lowe’s Miami Beach Hotel. Anthony Bourdain was the Master of Ceremonies at this event.

The Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village offered sips and bites as well as Culinary and Lifestyle Demonstrations at 13th Street and Ocean Drive on the Beach.

SOBE Bites 2012

Tasty bites at SOBE 2012

There were plenty of Vino con Vista opportunities this weekend at SOBE 2012. I was sipping plenty of wine from around the world and tasting the unbridled flavors of signature bites from famous restaurants around the country.

Sumptuous Cuisine at Best of the Best SOBE 2012

Grand Tasting Village Entrance at SOBE 2012

Over $17 million has been generated over the past 11 years to fund state-of-the-art facilities including: the Southern Wine and Spirits Beverage Management Center, the Hilton Training Kitchen, a teaching restaurant, dining room and wine cellar and the Angostura Culinary Lecture/Demonstration Classroom. For more information on this extraordinary program visit www.hospitality.fiu.edu

Follow my blog to learn about Wine and Food Festivals that are held all over the country.

Dr. EveAnn Lovero writes Travel Guides @ www.vino-con-vista.com